How well does this seal out drafts and cold air leaking into the home? The Ruff-Weather is 2 1/2 times this cost and not sure if it's worth that.
37981
The actual flap seals quite nicely. We inserted it in sliding door and needed to buy more weather stripping for the door part.
37982
Hi Chad, Let me be honest I didn't buy this for my dogs, its being used in my chicken coup I don't use the vinyl flap insert I just needed the door and the locking door piece, my dog door is in the wall of my home and its a different style its the heavy weather style with a double flap and it works great and its used by both my mini dachshunds and yellow lab.
37983
It works as good as any others I've had. This is my third over about twelve years. It's a couple of years old and the flap still seals up. There's no insulation on any of the flaps I've used, so you can feel the cold around them. Also, if the wind gets strong enough it will blow the flap open. I jury rigged the frame to go thru the storm door so I can close the inside wooden door in foul weather. It took a lot of caulk, but it's worth it.
1383415
I don't know. This is my first year with it and I brought it in from the covered patio when we started to get coldweather. It'll probably last longer doing this anyway.
1726978
Hi Spencer. It has magnetic strips on both flaps that are a vital part of keeping drafts out. Unfortunately, they do go 'clunk'. It's certainly not a deal breaker for us, but then, it's not in my bedroom, either. The way I'd look at it is this - if putting it in stops your cat/dog from waking you up to go outside, it's worth the very brief noise. :)
526692
i used it once so far, and i used behr weather proff primer seal and stain. 12 gallons of it, for a large deck. The tool was worth my money and will be using it indoors soon? iwill tell you you need a lot of ventilation indoors and a mask
572644
I've had this pop-up for 5 years and I use it relentlessly in winter in the subzero temps of the hi Rockies and I've never had a leak it may be just condensation if it's dripping inside.
468323
Not a perfect seal, but not a noticeable amount. It does create an air flow from behind that settles dust on you
1338562
I purchased a can of seal from a discount store like Wal-mart to treat the seams to guarantee it and we have had no issues. The kids put this tent in the front yard and when we go camping and there have been no leaks yet.
690963
I live in WA and the weather here, especially this past winter has been more wet than cold. Even though we did have two short very cold (20 degrees or less) spells, the cover has functioned as advertised. I too have coated mine with a water proofing spray.
431940
I also live in the NE (MA). Although the louvers close by themselves, they are not a good seal against warm air (air that you just paid to heat) escaping. If you have the fan at a high spot in the house, the pressure will be for the air to force its way out throught this loosely sealed, and un-insulated opening. It is unlikely that cold air will come down, but you will lose significant heat through this opening. The cold air will be drawn in elsewhere in your house to replace the air that you are losing here. So, with that said, here is what I did: I built a plywood box lined with foam insulation. The open bottom rim is lined with weatherstripping. It is sized to be bigger (L X W) and a bit taller than the fan assembly. It simply sits over the fan assembly in the attic during the heating season. Also, I made a "cap" of plywood, thin insulation, and weatherstripping that is held against the louvers on the living side of the fan assembly by straps that go around the fan support struts (they pass through, and partially hold open the louvers). Thus, the fan is sealed from both sides, and this prevents any warm air escape through the whole house fan. The bottom line here is that the real issue is to eliminate, as much as possible, any air that you have just paid to heat from passing through this loosely sealed opening in the most heat-loss-vulnerable part of your house. I don't know how this help forum works, but if there is a way, I can send you pics of what I have done if what I have given you is not clear.
264057
My first suggestion would be to go with one of their more powerful models, but if you don't want to spend more, I would say that this will bring it down a few notches, but the larger the space, the more dilute it's effects will be. It will still pull the moisture out, but it may not be powerful enough to bring it down more than a few %. And it's also going to depend on air circulation. If the air doesn't circulate, it will bring it down in the area where it's located, but not in the entire space.
564747
I have the same issue of my windows crying when its cold outside and warm inside...Its not the windows or the seals around them...(although double and triple pane windows may eliminate the issue)..it is because there is too much humidity in the house..In my case it is because they made the house too 'tight' so there is little airflow...most newer homes are built that way. I put damp rid containers around and I have a feeling they wont last very long...Im guessing these small units wont do much for us..good luck!
1748617
I have zero temps where I live and it has kept out the cold. Where I live can also be very windy and I have noticed that some gusts can blow the flaps a little bit. The bottom of the flaps have metal and they close by magnets on the bottom of the door opening I have noticed that dirt and/or grit can get under the magnets and that can cause them to not go up and down to grab the bottom of the flaps. I have had to vacuum it to get the dirt/grit and that takes care of the problem.
1569599
I took 2 pieces of rag and taped them on the inside overlapping them. I was worried that my girl wouldn't go in since she is really wild (won't come within 4 feet of you). She has been going in on a regular basis. It has been extremely cold here (0 degrees with wind chills below 0) so maybe she knows a good thing. I have it positioned under our house eaves with the opening behind our air conditioning unit to help block wind and wet.
1209982
It's as good as you can expect. The magnet holds the bottom pretty well unless the wind is blowing directly at it. When that happens, it's light enough that it just swings in the breeze and your room gets very cold. Your biggest concern should be insulating between the sliding and stationary glass doors. The gap between the two window panes let's in tons of cold air unless you get that sealed somehow. The rubber stripping included is OK but, not if you live where it gets below freezing. Overall - good product. Expect to customize the insulating. Good luck!
1478363
I'm using mine on a patio as a slide in under an outdoor kitchen cabinet. Make sure you have about 4 inches around for air flow. This unit has the condenser built in the left and right sides and dissipats the heat unlike a fan blowing air across the condenser on your home frig. What I did do is take the 1/2 inch shipping foam that was in the box and duct tape it to the back and top to help insulate the box a little. Just dont cover any part of the outside that feels warm after it's plugged in. Here is something I want to warn you about but is no big deal. When the box is cold and say you go to get a drink out of it. After you close the door it forms a tight vacuum and makes the door almost impossible to open unless you wait 3 or 4 min. I do HVAC repair and have have seen this same thing happen on walk-in coolers trapping people. You need to make a way for the vacuum to be relieved. What I did was take a 2 inch piece of thermostat wire (this wire is about 1/2 the size of a cloths hanger) tapped it the top and bent it over to go between the refrigerator box and the door gasket. This little wire will allow the vacuum inside to equalize and you can open the door within 15 to 20 seconds and it wont bother the temperature. Buy the way this frig can freeze a bottle of pop if you set it to cold. My control is setting around 5 O'clock and running around 32 degrees. I leave it outside but unplug it in the winter. Good Luck
1352701
So far mine works great, I'm a little corned about it being exposed to the winter elements and freezing up on me just when I need to open it most since I have it on my Storm Shelter. I did however have another one like it that locked up and I couldn't get the Combination opened. I called teh company and they sent me a replacement at no cost. I like it, and after this winter I'll know if I want more of them. Hope this helps.
1298272
Not sure...Used mine inside so no weather (rain, Snow or Cold) and only 15 to 20 feet distance... SO it might if seal from weather and distance is not to far away...